Monday, February 25, 2013

Annotation:
After
her mother’s death and the discovery of Vale’s treachery, Aria and Perry, now
the blood lord of the Tides, are living an uneasy existence amongst the people Perry must protect. With the Aether storms worsening and land becoming more
scarce for Outsiders, however, Aria and Perry’s situation is further
complicated when they decide to seek out the Still Blue: the one area on Earth said
to be free of the electrical storms that destroyed civilization.

Personal
thoughts: I was a huge fan of Under
the Never Sky and have recommended it quite frequently to Hunger Games fans who want something
similar, so I was really looking forward to picking up Through the Ever Night. Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy it nearly as
much as I did the first novel. I found the whole tribe/survival element of
Perry’s role as blood lord and little tedious and I kept waiting for something
exciting to happen throughout the first two-thirds of the story. The book does
pick up towards the end, which leads me to believe that there is still hope it
will be an overall excellent trilogy, but I think the author has a bit of work
to do in the final installment. Either way, I will still recommend this series
to fans of the dystopian genre. Interesting storyline and likable characters
that hold a lot of promise for a strong finish.

Plot
summary: Following their discovery of her mother’s death and of the defeat
of his brother Vale, Aria and Perry, now the blood lord of the Tides, are
living an uneasy existence amongst the Outsiders. Distrustful of Dwellers, Aria’s
new home is far from welcoming, especially since Perry’s new position as ruler
of the Tides is shaky at best. Determined to protect his people and make up for
his brother’s mistakes, Perry and Aria decide to seek out the Still Blue: the
last place on Earth that is said to be free of the Aether storms that
increasingly scorch the landscape and everything in its path. The only person
who knows where the location of the Still Blue, however, is Sable: the blood
lord of the Horns, the tribe that Perry and Aria believe is still holding Perry’s
sister Liv captive. To make matters worse, Consul Hess, the leader of the
domed-city of Reverie that Aria used to call home, is forcing Aria to provide
him the location of the Still Blue, using Perry’s brother Talon as a bargaining
chip. As the Tides’ trust of their new blood lord and his dweller girlfriend decreases
and the Aether storms get worse and worse, can Aria and Perry discover the
location of the one place on Earth where they might be able to survive?

Review: Picking up
where the best-selling novel, Under the
Never Sky, left off, this second installment in Veronica Rossi’s trilogy
doesn’t quite live up to its predecessor but still manages to continue the
author’s intriguing tale of danger, love and duty. Unlike the first book, Aria
and Perry’s relationship is firmly cemented in Through the Ever Night. What is not cemented, however, is their
position in Perry’s tribe, the Tides, of which he finds himself the new blood
lord. Readers who have forgotten some of the events of Under the Never Sky will need a little refresher to understand
exactly what is going on, because the novel does little to recap what happened
previously, potentially leading to some confusion. For those who remember all
of the details, and plot twists of the first book, however, the story flows
well, expanding on the characters created in Under the Never Sky and adding new elements to the landscape in
which they exist. One of the most intriguing parts of Veronica Rossi’s
creation, the mysterious and deadly Aether storms, becomes the largest driving
force in the plot as Aria and Perry struggle to find a way to free themselves
and the Tides from its constant destruction. This focus on the Aether and
survival, unfortunately means that some of what was so enjoyable about the
first novel, such as Perry and Aria’s developing relationship, the nature of
the domed cities and the various inhabitants of the outside world, etc. take
the backseat. Some interesting plot twists occur surrounding Perry’s sister Liv
and her new home with Sable, the leader of a rival tribe, add entertainment
value, but many readers might find themselves longing for the spark of the
first book that simply isn’t as apparent in Through
the Ever Night. Despite its shortcomings, however, the first two novels in
this trilogy will definitely appeal to teens and fans of the dystopian genre.
The third and final installment, Into the
Still Blue, is set to be released in 2014.

Genre: Science-Fiction/Dystopian

Reading
level: Grade 8+

Similar
titles: Under the
Never Sky by Veronica Rossi, Hunger
Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins, Earth’s
Children series by Jane Auel, Across
the Universe series by Beth Revis,
Divergent series by Veronica Roth.

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Annotation:
Calder
White and his three sisters are a family of mermaids that hunt in the waters of
Lake Superior: feeding off the lives and emotions of humans. In order to avenge
their mother’s death, Calder and his sisters vow to kill the person they
believe to be responsible, a man named Jason Hancock. Calder’s sisters order
him to seduce Lily, Hancock’s daughter, to get close to her father, but Calder
doesn’t expect to find himself falling in love with his prey.

Personal
thoughts: I’m always intrigued by mermaid tales, especially ones where the
mermaids are kind of mean, so this story was up my alley. While I did enjoy it,
there were some aspects that I wish had been downplayed and some that I wish
had been highlighted more. I really liked reading about Calder and his sisters
and their ability to lure victims to their watery graves. I wanted to know more
about the mermaid family, but instead the bulk of the novel focused on Lily and
her relationship with Calder. The romance was sweet, but seemed to blossom
incredibly quickly from trepidation to full-blown love within a few chapters. I
also felt like the ending got a little muddled, but I will still likely pick up
the sequel when it’s released later this year. I think the series has potential
and would recommend it to readers who like paranormal romance, especially of
the mermaid variety.

Plot
summary: For decades, Calder White and his sisters, Maris, Pavati and
Tallulah, have hunted in the waters of Lake Superior. Feeding off the lives and
emotions of humans, Calder and his sisters are not like the Disney version of
mermaids: their supernatural powers and ability to survive both above and beneath
the surface of the icy waves makes them lethal to their prey. Years earlier,
their mother died as a result of a broken promise made between her and a human
man who’s life she saved in exchange for that of his infant child. The man, Tom
Hancock, took his family away from the lake, but his now adult son, Jason, has
returned with his wife and children. Determined to avenge their mother’s death,
Maris, the eldest of Calder’s sisters and the leader of their family, orders
Calder to seduce Lily, Jason’s seventeen-year-old daughter. In order to please
his sisters, Calder gets close to Lily, spending more time with her than he
ever has with another human. What Calder doesn’t expect, however, is to find
himself falling in love with his prey. As Lily and Calder get closer, will he
be able to deliver her father to his sisters?

Review: Author
Anne Greenwood Brown’s enthusiasm for Lake Superior is evident in her debut
novel, Lies Beneath, the first
installment in a new series for young adults. It’s not very often that mermaid
tales take place in a lake, but the author’s obvious love for the beauty
surrounding the nearly ocean-sized body of water makes the presence of sea
creatures perfectly acceptable. The geography and climate of the lake is almost
as much of a character as Calder, the leading merman, and Lily, his unknowing
prey. Readers who are unfamiliar with Lake Superior will feel like they know
the area quite well by the end of the story, largely due to the factual
information the author includes about the history and lore that surround it.
The plot of the novel itself is also interesting, with Calder and his mermaid
sisters being more like sharks circling the shore watching for prey. The
revenge aspect of the tale gets slightly confusing at times: it’s clear that
there is more to the story but it isn’t until the end of the book that the
author really decides what direction she wants to take the characters. The
conclusion feels somewhat abrupt, but overall, the novel is entertaining and
will likely leave readers excited for the sequel, Deep Betrayal, which is set to be released on March 12, 2013.

Genre: Fantasy

Reading
level: Grade 7+

Similar
titles: Lost
Voices by Sarah Porter, Of Poseidon
by Anna Banks.

Monday, February 4, 2013

Annotation:
Amy
and Elder land on Centauri Earth, along with the members of the Godspeed who chose to abandon their ship
and start a new life. After thawing the frozen leadership of the original Godspeed mission, including Amy’s
parents, Amy, Elder and the rest of the colonists realize that Centauri Earth
is far more dangerous than they ever anticipated.

Personal
thoughts: Wow, this is one of the best series I have ever read. I loved the
first novel, enjoyed the sequel even more, but can safely say that the third
book was the best…not many trilogies can accomplish that! From start to finish,
this is an amazing book and I was completely satisfied with the ending. I am
only sad that the series is over, but I am really looking forward to reading
what Beth Revis comes up with next. This trilogy is a must-read for anyone who
simply likes a well-written, exciting and entertaining story. Excellent,
excellent, excellent.

Plot
summary: Amy, Elder and the inhabitants of the Godspeed who chose to start a new life on the planet have landed on
Centauri Earth. The frozen members of the original Godspeed mission, including Amy’s parents, have been
released from their icy chambers and work must now begin to colonize their new
home. But everything is not going as smoothly as Amy and Elder had hoped. The
shipborn colonists do not trust their new military leaders, and the Earth
natives, including Amy’s father who is now the leader of the mission, are even
more wary of Elder and his people. More troubling, however, is the planet which
they must now call home. Inhabited by fierce dinosaur-like creatures, deadly
vegetation and unpredictable weather, Amy and Elder aren’t sure if Centauri
Earth is as habitable as they were lead to believe. The colonists also begin to
discover ruins: proof that someone has been to the planet before but seems to
be gone without a trace. Will Amy, Elder and the rest of the members of the Godspeed mission be able to survive long
enough to learn the truth about Centauri Earth?

Review: This third
and final installment in Beth Revis’ best-selling Across the Universe trilogy provides the series with an incredibly
exciting and satisfying end. Revis is a master at creating twists and turns
that are difficult to anticipate, and the reader will find themselves along for
a very bumpy ride as Amy and Elder learn the truth about the mission that has
brought them to their new home. Free from the confines of the Godspeed, the author creates an entire
world for her characters to navigate, providing opportunities to develop Amy
and Elder even further as they learn more about themselves and each other. The
novel is action-packed and paced perfectly as well, building suspense
throughout the plot that comes to an exciting climax. In her Across the Universe trilogy, Beth Revis
has created a story and set of characters that is certain to stand the test of
time as one of the best science-fiction series ever written for the young adult
audience.

Genre: Science-Fiction

Reading
level: Grade 8+

Similar
titles: Across the
Universe and A Million Suns by
Beth Revis, Glow and Spark by Amy Kathleen Ryan, A Long, Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan.

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Annotation:
After
sixteen-year-old Alenna Shawcross fails the GPPT, a personality test instituted
by the harsh, all-controlling government that now controls North America, she
is sent to Island Alpha: a brutal, tropical prison where other teenagers who
fail the test struggle to survive. The island’s population is in the midst of a
civil war between two rival groups of teens, and Alenna finds herself in the
middle of the conflict, determined to stay alive and find a way off the island.

Personal
thoughts: Having read and completely loved The Forsaken, I am shocked that I haven’t heard more buzz about it.
I have said many times that I am a huge fan of the dystopian genre, but too
often dystopian books aren’t super satisfying. That is not the case with The Forsaken, however, which I loved
from the first page to the last. I can’t wait for the sequel, and am looking
forward to recommending this new series to Hunger
Games fans. What an accomplishment for debut author (and librarian!) Lisa M.
Stasse!

Plot
summary: After years of war, poverty and violence, North America is now the
UNA: an alliance between Canada, the United States and Mexico controlled by a
harsh and incredibly strict military government. When she was little girl,
Alenna Shawcross’ parents, like anyone else who opposed the UNA, were taken by
the government, and Alenna became one of countless orphans raised to respect
and obey. At the age of sixteen, all citizens of the UNA are required to take
the GPPT: a chemical personality test that can identify individuals with
violent or criminal tendencies. After Alenna inexplicably fails the test, she
is sent to Alpha Island, a brutal tropical prison where other teens who didn’t
pass the GPPT must struggle to survive. The island is in the midst of a civil
war between two rival factions of teens: those who follow the Monk, a
charismatic dictator whose devotees revere him as a path to salvation, and
those who oppose the Monk. Alenna finds herself in the middle of the conflict
living with the teens who fight against the Monk and his drones. Amongst the
rebels, Alenna meets Liam, a strong and handsome warrior who is convinced that
there is a way off Island Alpha. As Alenna learns about the island, she begins
to realize that it is much more than a prison, and becomes determined to help
Liam, and the rest of her new friends, escape before it is too late.

Review: In her
debut novel, digital librarian turned author Lisa M. Stasse delivers a healthy
dose of action, adventure, romance and overall dystopian excitement in The Forsaken. The dystopian genre seems
to be slowly taking over young adult literature, but Stasse’s novel truly
shines as a thoroughly entertaining and well-written book. Fans of The Hunger Games will easily enjoy the
fast pace, likable characters, and non-stop action in The Forsaken, which reads much like a futuristic Lord of the Flies. From start to finish,
the reader is entrenched in the world of Island Alpha, where teens battle
eachother for scarce resources, territory and power. Throw in a protagonist
that many teens will identify with, a strong supporting cast of characters, and
a romance that refrains from being overly gushy and melodramatic and you have a
story with loads of appeal to both male and female teens. The novel has
received some mixed reviews from those who consider it to be too much like The Hunger Games, but the author’s
ability to have the same tone as the uber-successful series while creating a
unique storyline is perfect for teachers or librarians who want to provide teen
readers an enjoyable read-a-like. Overall, a successful and entertaining debut
novel that will leave fans eagerly anticipating the release of the sequel, The Uprising, in August 2013.

Genre: Science-Fiction

Reading
level: Grade 7+

Similar
titles: Hunger
Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins, Article
5 by Kristen Simmons, Awaken by
Katie Kacvinsky, Divergent and Insurgent by Veronica Roth, Chemical Garden trilogy by Laruen
DeStefano, Across the Universe trilogy
by Beth Revis, The Pledge by Kimberly
Derting, Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi, Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi.

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About Me

Welcome to my blog! I'm a librarian who loves to read...unusual, right? This blog contains my reviews and thoughts about the books I read, and other information for tweens, teens, parents, teachers, librarians and anyone else who loves books. Enjoy!